Google envisions future of floating, blue-green data centers

Google has been granted its patent for a data center that floats on the ocean …

The future of data centers appears to be a move from the land to the sea, with power coming from the movement of the water and cooling coming directly from the ocean. Google was granted a patent for a floating data center this week, allowing it to license out the technology to third parties if it should so choose.

Google's application for a "Water-based data center" patent was filed in February of 2007 and published late last year. It describes "a floating platform-mounted computer data center comprising a plurality of computing units, a sea-based electrical generator in electrical connection with the plurality of computing units, and one or more sea-water cooling units for providing cooling to the plurality of computing units."

The majority of the patent deals with the logistics of ship-based data centers, though it also examines the use of wave power, tidal power, and seawater for providing electricity and cooling to land-based data centers that are close enough to water.

Of course, there's nothing to stop Google from deploying a floating data center powered by conventional fuel sources, but such a vessel would be more limited by range or fuel capacity. Not only would it have to carry enough fuel to power itself, it would also have to make sure to power the systems it carries. Using a water-based generator would not only be more practical and efficient, it's also a significantly greener solution.

Despite the patent, however, Google may not be the first company to send its data centers out to sea. A Silicon Valley startup called International Data Security (IDS) announced in January of 2008 its intent to set up a fleet of data-serving cargo ships. These ships would not only come with standard storage services, but also with amenities such as private offices, overnight accommodations, and galley services. The first ship was scheduled to set sail (or rather, hang out in San Francisco's Pier 50) in April of 2008, but according to a blog post by IDS partner Silverback Migration Solutions, that plan got pushed to third quarter 2008 and we were unable to find any further information on the project.

Silverback acknowledged Google's patent in September, however, noting that IDS and Google appear to be planning different implementations of the floating data center. If that's the case, then it's likely that the two won't be stepping on each other's toes. However, if other companies decide to implement floating solutions similar to Google's in the future, they may find themselves having to pay licensing fees. Given the current economic climate, though, let's just say we don't expect to see a mass data center exodus to the ocean anytime in the near future.

30 Reader Comments

I don't see how using a sea water cooling system can be all that green. I mean if you're transferring heat from the data center to sea water in either a closed or open system where does the excess heat go? Bled off into the sea or the air? Doesn't this contribute to more heat in the atmosphere?

I'm not trying to be argumentative as I just don't get it. Maybe someone here on Ars can explain it to me as I may just be dumb.

Yes, the heat will go into the sea water. The point is that it doesn't take any extra energy to do that, other than pumps to move the water around. In a building on land, you need air conditioning units to move the heat around, and those soak up electricity (which could be created burning coal, etc.) like it's nobody's business.

I look forward to/dread the day when we read the headline "SOMALIAN PIRATES STEAL GOOGLE!"

Seriously, though. Interesting stuff. I'd be especially fascinated to see how this kind of tactic would effect certain internet legalities. Let's say, hypothetically, that this ship (or one like it) was holding a server. And let's say this server was being used by whatever the next descendant of the Pirate Bay. What law would govern these servers?

Gosh, I can't tell you how cool it would be if the next brand of music/movie pirates were running servers/trackers/whatevers from shipboard servers.

Originally posted by TheException:Seriously, though. Interesting stuff. I'd be especially fascinated to see how this kind of tactic would effect certain internet legalities. Let's say, hypothetically, that this ship (or one like it) was holding a server. And let's say this server was being used by whatever the next descendant of the Pirate Bay. What law would govern these servers?

The RIAA would just hire mercenaries to sink them if they are international waters. And no, I am not joking.

Just locate data centres on the coast like a nuclear power station. It's safer, you can use big fast fixed lines, you can have your seawater cooling, and even float a tidal generator out there if you want.

Originally posted by TheException:Gosh, I can't tell you how cool it would be if the next brand of music/movie pirates were running servers/trackers/whatevers from shipboard servers.

Back to yer roots. Arrgh.

It would be cool, but data havens have already been tried. The main problem though is that even if the server is out to sea the company's money has to be in a bank somewhere. So, unless you're at First Seastedding Republic with Mr. Thiel, they can get you.

Originally posted by Crossed Reality:If they're on shore they can just use fiber, but how will a truly floating data center connect to the outside world? Satellite latencies? Are they going to use mobile broadband with bigass antennas?

Ummm... more fibre. They running fibre under the water all the time... although the risk here would be if the ship is not stationary enough the extra movement of the cable might be too much wear and tear.

Wouldn't it be a better idea just to build the data centre on the coast and pipe the water in - they are doing that in Toronto to cool office towers.

Have these guys been keeping up with current events? I know most of the piracy is taking place near Africa but jeez, how would you do security for these things? Kind of reminds of ghost in the shell 2 though. (Edit just saw someone already posted about this. Doh!)

I'm thinking nuke powered submarine for the actual platform - since the US is looking at dropping the number of nukes we keep on hand - at least one or two missile subs could be re-purposed. Tapping into those undersea cables seems like an easy thing to do then. Heck - start deploying 'ports' along those undersea cables for plugging into repeaters on the ocean floor and you have the ability to dynamically move your data center wherever. Also - defense becomes easy; no need to worry about idiots in speedboats ruining your day.

Submarine data center- perfect for a true data-haven - pardon me while I submit the patent

Originally posted by Irda Ranger:The main problem though is that even if the server is out to sea the company's money has to be in a bank somewhere. So, unless you're at First Seastedding Republic with Mr. Thiel, they can get you.

Providers of the KaZaA network of Sharman Networks and the developers of WinMX, have chosen to incorporate in Vanuatu. Republic of Vanuatu, established 1980, 1,750 kilometres (1,090 mi) east of northern Australia, 500 kilometres (310 mi) north-east of New Caledonia. Apparently there were banking reforms in 2008, as they were a well-known tax haven.Nauru, the world's smallest island nation, was also a infamous tax haven and money laundering center in the 90s. If you have enough money, you can find a bank that will gladly deposit it for you. Remember Godfather III? "The higher I go, the crookeder it becomes."

Originally posted by Crossed Reality:If they're on shore they can just use fiber, but how will a truly floating data center connect to the outside world? Satellite latencies? Are they going to use mobile broadband with bigass antennas?

Who says you cannot "land" the fiber onto a boat? (Although I have no idea why anyone would want the amount of bandwidth it offers ...)

I don't know if I've played too much Bioshock or if I'm just hoping for the new one to be great. But isn't anyone thinking "Rapture?"

I could also seeing them drop these data centers off by deep channels where they can pump near freezing water up from a deep channel and then pump it to the surface. The temperature difference could be used to produce quite a bit of energy as well as cooling.

Another thing that would be interesting if they coupled this with their container data centers. Come on you don't even need a special boat for upgrades. Just float up, grab the container and send off the old one.

What I would be interested in is knowing if Google will be starting their own private security company or if they'll just hire one. Those things wouldn't be safe out there on their own unless they were submerged.

On the plus side, the cooling issue is less of a concern, with lots of cold seawater available. You could still have a meltdown and massive atmospheric release, however, if the core exploded for any reason. The Russians have abandoned the dual-use civilian/military Chernobyl type reactors, at least. Abandoned them where? Sorry, don't know.

Security for a sea based center would be impossible. How much ransom would you be able to ask after capturing this? Lets see if a supertanker is $10 million....

I'd be fascinated to see what "flag" they use. The US or will they get some crappy flag of convenience. Plus just the regular hazards fo the sea ie storms and how about collision with another ship. Would Lloyds wirte the insurance? Self Insured?

Self insured and its involved in collision with cruise ship....

No I think hugely more issues than just can they generate power and hook up to cable

I don't think security would be a concern for these. It would be extremely unlikely that these would be deployed in international waters due to the time and cost it would be to service these things, as well as the extra cable needed for the data connection. Most likely these would be floating a few miles off the coast, well within the maritime boundaries of the corresponding country.

Originally posted by TheException:Gosh, I can't tell you how cool it would be if the next brand of music/movie pirates were running servers/trackers/whatevers from shipboard servers.

You know, that was the first thing I thought about when I heard The Pirate Bay was being indicted by the Swedish courts. I mean, they used to put Casinos on ships to get outside the city limits to do some gambling. If you have a problem with the law, put your data centers on a ship and get it outside the borders. The only problem is that international waters are not exactly the safest place to be without some navy protection.